The Federal Government and the European Union have launched a €40 million education and youth empowerment programme to improve learning and skills development across Jigawa, Kano, and Sokoto States.
The initiative, called the Education and Youth Empowerment in Northwest Nigeria (EYEPINN), aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children, strengthen teacher training, and promote youth skill acquisition.
A National Programme Steering Committee has been inaugurated to guide implementation. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, chairs the committee, while the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, serves as co-chair.
Speaking in Abuja during the inauguration, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, commended the EU’s continued partnership in improving Nigeria’s education system. Represented by Dr. Usman Ejeh, he said the project would address long-standing challenges in teacher capacity, learning safety, and access to education.
“The EYEPINN project is one of the most strategic efforts to ensure no child is left behind,” Enitan said.
Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, Team Leader for Human Development at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, described the project as the EU’s first standalone education initiative in Nigeria, noting it was designed to meet local needs in collaboration with the ministry.
She added that the EU has committed over €800 million to national programmes between 2021 and 2027, with additional funds through regional projects.
UNICEF’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, said the project came at a critical time to support reforms in foundational literacy, teacher training, and the reduction of out-of-school children.
The programme is implemented through UNICEF, Plan International, and other partners to ensure measurable educational outcomes.
